Arsenal – A Pre-Season Round-Up

Wenger & Rice - Looking Ahead

Arsenal took just 90 seconds to kick-start their pre-season with a Andrey Arshavin goal. 2 more teams & 10 further goals later, they look in fine shape ahead of the Emirates Cup in a few days time. Barnet, SK Sturm Graz & SC Neusiedl were our opponents this time around, as we headed towards Austria like most summers. 11G sums up the results for you..

First up were Barnet, the usual suspects one can presume. Both Laurent Koscielny & Marouane Chamakh were handed starts by Arsene. Although it was the Russian who got us to a rollicking start. Jay Simpson latched up two opportunist strikes to stake claim in the first-team. Wenger decided to field an entire different XI for the second half, as is the norm. Arsenal dominated the half with Walcott making good runs down the flank, like the days of yore. His final ball still needs a lot more improvement though. Samir Nasri rounded the outing by bagging a goal for himself.

Most notable was the choice of goalkeeper’s made by Arsene. While it was Lukasz Fabianski who started the game. Vito Mannone & Wojciech Szczesny divided the burden at the turn of the half. Word went round that Almunia had picked an injury right before the game. Very well.

Here’s how we lined up for both the halves:

1’st half:

Lukasz Fabianski, Havard Nordtveit, Thomas Vermaelen, Laurent Koscielny, Armand Traore, Emmanuel Frimpong, Tomas Rosicky, Jack Wilshere, Andrey Arshavin, Jay Simpson, Jay Emmanuel-Thomas

2′nd half:

Wojciech Szczesny / Vito Mannone, Ignasi Miquel, Johan Djourou, Kieran Gibbs, Craig Eastmond, Samir Nasri, Conor Henderson, Henri Lansbury, Nacer Barazite, Theo Walcott, Marouane Chamakh

Both the debutants failed to impress, clearly indicating they need more time to settle in the squad. Both JET & Frimpong were massive in the first half, sign of great things to come perhaps! Same was the case with Jack- the lad.

Next up were the Austrian outfit, SK Sturm Graz. Now this was a gradual increase in levels as we were facing the reigning Austrian Cup holders. But Wenger’s side continued to impress with a near perfect 3-0 victory. Two exquisite goals from Nasri & a 2′nd half strike from Lansbury sealed the points for us. For the consecutive game running, Theo failed to get his final ball right. Vermaelen was handed his first arm-band, a huge improvement over last years debut for him.

Wenger again opted for the pair of Lukasz Fabianski & Wojciech Szczesny at the back. Now this time Almunia was not injured, if insiders are to be believed. So that clearly means the Spaniard is being singled out. Given his age, this must imply his ousting from the squad altogether. What a relief would that be!

Team for the 1’st half:

Lukasz Fabianski, Thomas Vermaelen, Havard Nordtveit, Johan Djourou, Armand Traore, Samir Nasri, Theo Walcott, Emmanuel Frimpong, Jack Wilshere, Andrey Arshavin, Marouane Chamakh

Subs for the 2′nd half:

Wojciech Szczesny, Laurent Koscielny, Kieran Gibbs, Craig Eastmond, Henri Lansbury, Tomas Rosicky, Jay Emmanuel-Thomas

And finally we squared up against SC Neusiedl, a game which marked the debut goal for Marouane Chamakh. One of many I hope. Walcott opened his account for the season & so did Jay Emmanuel-Thomas. And who can forget ‘that’ chip from Vela. He may score only two-goals-a-season, but they are usually ones to savour mind you. Big season for the Mexican this, especially now that Eduardo has bid adieu.

Neusiedl, a tier-3 side from Austria, did get a chance to go ahead but Mannone did well to save the shot from 12 yards. And that was that, another stroll in the park for the Gunners.

Interestingly Almunia was handed a start for this one, much to the angst of many Gooners, including me. I thought his story was over.

Squad for the 1’st half:

Manuel Almunia, Havard Nordtveit, Laurent Koscielny, Johan Djourou, Kieran Gibbs, Jack Wilshere, Andrey Arshavin, Samir Nasri, Emmanuel Frimpong, Theo Walcott, Jay Emmanuel-Thomas

2′nd half (Subs):

Lukasz Fabianski, Vito Mannone, Bacary Sagna, Thomas Vermaelen, Gael Clichy, Abou Diaby, Alex Song, Emmanuel Eboue, Carlos Vela, Marouane Chamakh

World Cup returnees, Eboue, Clichy & Sagna did get some playing time whilst the duo of Song & Diaby was withheld completely. ‘Hourglass’ Djourou seems to have picked yet another pre-season injury. Here’s hoping he returns before April with this one. Seriously he needs to build on his fitness; season after season, the same old story is just not done.

So at the end of 3 games, virtually all the available squad members were given a run-in by the Professor. 11 goals to show for & none conceded, would have impressed Arsene. Individually the likes of Nasri, JET, Jay Simpson, Wilshere, Lansbury etal impressed hugely. Debutants Koscielny & Chamakh need to toughen up though, if they are to stand a chance in the fast-paced English league.

I’d personally want the gaffer to surprise us by having Szczesny as our #1 GK for the season; offload Almunia & cripple Fabianksi or something. We are in dire needs of a strong custodian, someone go tell Arsene!

Overall it was an acceptable pre-season but a lot more needs to be done to face the might of Celtic & Milan in the Emirates Cup starting next week. Reports are filtering in that both RvP & Cesc are gonna miss it, joining Bendtner who’s out injured. Nonetheless I’m keeping the faith & so should you..

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Note: If any of you want to share your views/opinions on the club from N5 (read: Arsenal!), leave Us a comment at the bottom. We’ll get back right away & be glad to give you a chance. Keep Gunning..

Laurent Koscielny